AB today

Just win, baby.

The Raiders slogan was never truer than on Friday morning, when coach Jon Gruden told reporters that receiver Antonio Brown was not only not suspended, but will play in the season opener Monday night against the Broncos.

“Antonio is back,” Gruden said before practice. “We’re really excited about that. Ready to move on. He’s had a lot of, obviously, time to think about things and we’re happy to have him back. And I know Raider Nation is excited about that, too.”

Brown was not on the field, but he was at the facility after offering an emotional apology at a team meeting earlier Friday. On Wednesday, Brown had to be held back by teammates, according to sources, after yelling at general manager Mike Mayock for fining him for missing practices during training camp and the preseason. At one point, as things were escalating, Brown called Mayock a “cracker,” sources confirmed.

The Raiders mulled suspending Brown, and had him stay home on Thursday, but in the end Gruden needed his offensive centerpiece.

Gruden didn’t take any follow-up questions before practice, and it’s not known yet if the team will fine Brown again or bench him for the start of the game.

“I am excited to be out here today,” Brown said. “I want to apologize to my teammates and the organization. Enough talk now. I’m excited to be out here with my teammates and grateful for all the fans. I’m excited to be part of the Raiders and see you guys soon.”

Brown didn’t take any questions but later told ESPN that he did not use the word “cracker” and that “everything has been blown out of proportion.” He said that he talked to Mayock “1-on-1, man-to-man.” Quarterback Derek Carr said the team captains were up there with Brown at the team meeting and “we’re excited to move on.”

There was no question that Brown’s status with the team was always going to be Gruden’s call. He hired Mayock and made Mayock handle the dirty work of calling out and fining Brown for the simple reason that Gruden is the offensive play caller, has built his offense around Brown and needs to have a very positive relationship with his star player.

So, Mayock takes the L, a pretty humiliating one, for the team. Quarterback Derek Carr and the other Raiders captains who stood by Brown when he apologized Friday morning didn’t want to go through what they they did last season — losing their best player (Khalil Mack, to a trade) the week before the season opener — and Gruden has said he was “miserable” during that 4-12 campaign. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson said Friday he was planning on using Brown against Denver “all along.”

Gruden pined for Brown throughout the “Hard Knocks” production, when the receiver missed most of training camp dealing with frostbitten feet and a disagreement with the league about wearing an outdated, no-longer sanctioned helmet.

Brown was fined $53,950 by Mayock for missing a practice on Aug. 16 and a walkthrough on Aug. 22.

Mayock, in a letter, advised Brown that should he continue to miss mandatory team activities, “the Raiders reserve the right to impose additional remedies … for engaging in Conduct Detrimental to the Club.”

Brown wrote in his commentary on the image of the letter:

“When your own team want to hate but there’s no stopping me now devil is a lie. Everyone got to pay this year so we clear @Raiders”

The Raiders will gladly take payment in the form of, say, 150 yards, a couple of touchdowns and a win Monday night.